Answer
Short Answer: The word zina (adultery and fornication), in Islam, can be used in two different, yet related, ways. It can be used as a general term that refers to a general meaning, and as a legal term defining a criminal act that invites punishments and other legal applications. Zina in its broad meaning indicates any haram (prohibited) act, whether the act was sexual intercourse or a look, talk, touch, or desire that is related or may lead to illicit sexual relations.
………….
Salam Dear Brother,
Thank you for this question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Zina
The word zina (adultery and fornication), in Islam, can be used in two different, yet related, ways. It can be used as a general term that refers to a general meaning, and as a legal term defining a criminal act that invites punishments and other legal applications.
Zina in its broad meaning indicates any haram (prohibited) act, whether the act was sexual intercourse or a look, talk, touch, or desire that is related or may lead to illicit sexual relations.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Allah has written for Adam’s son (mankind) his share of zina (adultery and fornication), which he commits inevitably. The zina of the eyes is the sight (to gaze at a forbidden thing), the zina of the tongue is the talk, and the inner-self wishes and desires and the private parts testify all this or deny.” (Al-Bukhari)
These are forbidden because they eventually might lead to sexual intercourse, and they are forbidden as a preventive issue.
Allah in the Nobel Quran said:
{Nor come near to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).} (Surah 17 Verse 32)
Scholars said that what makes some forms of gazing, talking, and touching forbidden acts is that they bring you near zina.
Allah also said:
{Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And God is well acquainted with all that they do.} (Surah 24 Verse 30)
Zina, as a legal term
Zina, as a legal term, has a more specific meaning because there are legal applications related to it. According to scholars, in its legal meaning zina is ‘the voluntary sexual intercourse outside of marriage when the male sexual organ is inserted inside the female one, regardless of the number of times.’
Thus, any sexual relationship, which fits this definition, is legally zina and deserves the application of a major legal penalty.
Zina in its broad meaning and its legal meaning are both haram (forbidden). However, committing zina (the legal meaning) leads to a major legal penalty, whereas committing anything that brings you near to zina is considered a bad deed for which one is accountable before Allah and it does not qualify for any specific physical punishment set out in Islamic law.
The Objective of the Islamic law
Zina is regarded among the major sins in Islam. One may ask why zina is forbidden. The answer is that the sharia (Islamic law) has objectives and intents. The objective of the Islamic law is to serve the interest of people (masalih al–ibad). The five ultimate interests (al–kuliyat al–khamsah) are the deen (belief), an–nafs (life), 
al–aql(intellect), al–maal (wealth), and an–nasl (family and lineage).
The wisdom of preserving an–nasl (family and lineage) is to assure the recognition of the right lineage of people and their children, by which the social kinship and social network is kept safe and stable, as well as preserving society from sexually transmitted diseases.
Islam has two ways to preserve an–nasl (family and lineage):
- Making marriage permissible and commanding Muslims to declare their marriages and to announce the children who come from the marriage.
- Eliminating the causes of corruption by prohibiting and punishing zina and by forbidding coming near to zina.
And Allah knows best.
I hope this helps.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links: